Wednesday, December 18, 2013

OUR FAVORITE AENC

For some time now we have believed the AKC/Eukanuba National
Championship to be the perfect way to end the show season.The AENC has become increasingly the most
satisfying experience on the calendar.

For exhibitors, the week offers opportunities galore to gain
points and titles for your dogs.Grooming spaces are generous and ring sizes maybe the largest
around.For spectators it is the one
show where you can see not only quality specimens of every AKC breed, but breeds from
around the world.One of the most
interesting things for us was the opportunity to see AKC breeds from countries outside the United States.While we are still getting used
to Old English Sheepdogs with tails, we found several Yorkshire Terriers with
tails to be highly impressive.

Fanciers interested in seeing the top dogs around the world
were well rewarded this year.63 of this year’s Top 100 Dogs All Breeds were in attendance,
including nine of the Top Ten.We were
also treated to a couple of “Ghosts from
Christmas Past”.2012’s Number Three Dog
All Breeds, the Doberman Pinscher, GCH CH Protocol’s Veni Vidi Vici,
represented the United States in the World Challenge.The faceoff between this year’s Number One
Sporting Dog, the Irish Water Spaniel, GCH CH Whistlestop’s Riley on Fire, and the
Top Winning Sporting Dog of all time and 2011’s Number One Dog All Breeds, the
Black Cocker Spaniel, CH Casablanca’s Thrilling Seduction, was a highlight of
the competition.

It is conventional dog show wisdom that exhibitors don’t get
a look at marquee shows.Such was not
the case this year.Both the Number One
Toy Dog, the Miniature Pinscher, GCH CH Marlex Classic Red Glare, and the
Number Herding Dog, the Old English Sheepdog, GCH CH Bugaboo’s Picture Perfect,
failed to make it out of their respective groups.Ten of the 28 group placements went to dogs
not in the Top 100 Dogs All Breeds.

Like most fanciers, we paid our own way at this year’s
AENC.We have to count it money well
spent.Look for us in Orlando next year.

NUMBER EIGHT

NUMBER NINE

NUMBER TEN

SHOW INFO

******************

The author has been attending dog shows as a spectator and exhibitor for over 45 years. He is a retired management consultant who has advised multiple organizations affiliated with the AKC and the Cat Fanciers Association on business management, long range planning, customer service, and legislative matters. After 25 years of living in the big cities of New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC, he now resides in his hometown of Memphis, TN.

LET US HEAR FROM YOU

We love to get e-mail from our readers. Send us your show reports, photos of your wins, and any other interesting tidbits you want to share with our readers. E-mail us at bill38112@aol.com